Warren-Mott grad clings to Michigan Open lead

Amateur golfers are making their presence felt at the Michigan Open Championship.

Tom Werkmeister, who is bidding to be the first amateur to win the event since Bob Ackerman in 1975, is clinging to a one-stroke lead over defending champion Barrett Kelpin after Wednesday’s third round at The Orchards Golf Club in Washington Township.

“I think way more amateurs sign up for this tournament now,” said Werkmeister, the former Warren-Mott golfer who now lives in Kentwood. “It used to be amazing for an amateur to finish in the top 10. Nowadays you’re fighting to be the low amateur if you’re in the top 10. More amateurs are playing so the quality has gotten better.

“I didn’t start playing (in the Michigan Open) until 2001. I never considered playing in it before then.”

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Jeff Champine, a former Mount Clemens resident who now lives in Rochester Hills, shot 66 to tie Kelpin for the low round of the day.

Champine finished eighth in last year’s Michigan Open, one of two amateurs to finish in the top 10. Brian Hayward of Grand Rapids tied for third.

“The amateur golfers today, compared to the amateurs a few years back, are more talented,” Champine said. “I think they’re gaining a little more respect today. For an amateur to come out and shoot even par today is a pretty routine thing.

“Before, five or six over would be a decent amateur score.”

Champine thinks Werkmeister can end the string of professional champions.

“Tom is a terrific amateur player,” Champine said. “It’s very difficult (for an amateur to win), but his credentials speak for themselves. He’s somebody who can definitely win this championship. I wish him the best.”

Werkmeister, 45, and the 41-year-old Champine, are two of the older amateurs in the field. At the other end of the spectrum is 18-year-old Henry Do of Ypsilanti, who is tied for seventh. There are seven amateurs in the top 25 after three rounds.

Champine’s round of 66 left him tied for 21st at even par, following rounds of 74 and 75.

“I can’t explain it,” he said of his round. “It was just one of those days when everything was clicking. I didn’t hit it any different than yesterday. I didn’t make any putts yesterday. Today it just seemed to click and the next thing I knew I was signing a scorecard for a 66.

“My tee balls might have been a little better today, but if I had to tell you the big difference from yesterday to today, there really wasn’t any big difference.”

Champine is familiar with The Orchards course and has played on the club’s Publinx team.

“I spend a lot of time here,” he said. “I’m comfortable playing here as soon as I tee it up. There’s nothing I don’t know out here, so it’s definitely a comfort factor.”

Kelpin went into last year’s final round with a three-stroke lead and wound up winning by eight shots with a record score of 23-under-par.

“Last year was so much different,” said Kelpin, who made his professional debut at the Open in 2012. “I think there’s a little less pressure this year chasing. Tomorrow I’ll feel a little loose and I can just go get it rather than having the pressure of being in the lead.

“Either way, I’m going to have to play a great round tomorrow -- five, six or seven under par. Attack where I can and play smart when I have to.”

Kelpin finished Wednesday’s round with a birdie when he holed out from the bunker.

“I had a perfect lie on the upslope and it was a nice bonus when it went in,” said the Kalamazoo resident. “When I hit it into the bunker it was a little bit of a letdown, but I was glad I could hole it out and put an exclamation point on the round.”

Kelpin had hoped to get close to the lead on Wednesday after carding 69s in each of the first two rounds.

“I didn’t want to loom three or four shots back,” he said. “I wanted to make a move if I could. I played pretty solid the whole day and managed to put a good round together to move me up a little bit. I’m in a good spot going into tomorrow.”

So is Werkmeister, who has held or shared the lead through the first three rounds.

“Hopefully, it’ll be a fun day tomorrow,” he said. “I was pretty nervous several years ago when I was in (the final group) with (Scott) Hebert (in 2006) but I think I’ll feel much more comfortable now.”

Werkmeister was also in the final group in 2009 when Ryan Brehm won the first of two straight championships.

Like Kelpin, Werkmeister closed out his round with a birdie on the par-four 18th hole, sinking a 15-foot putt.

“Today was pretty steady, much like the first two days,” Werkmeister said. “I had a little stretch in the middle of the round where I hit some squirrely shots. I kind of lost my swing for a couple holes.

“I was able to fix it, whatever it was. You just have to trust yourself and try not to think about it. I tried to swing a little harder. Sometimes I get in the habit of taking too much off the swing.”

Andy Ruthkoski of Muskegon, who was tied with Werkmeister after two rounds, shot a 73 and fell into a tie for third place with Christopher Mory of Haslett, who shot 68.